Two Kinds Of Light

Gear

“Life is trying things to see if they work.”

— Ray Bradbury

Once Upon A Time...

First, a gear story...

Gear Geeks #4. "The Red Ramblers". Tone. Timing. Attitude. & How The Master-Volume Amplifier Almost Killed Rock 'n Roll.

...Utilizing all these things, I learned to play. Well, all these things, except the internet in the early days. I utilized a teacher until I developed a sense of pitch, learning to play by ear, and at that point my record collection became my teacher. Anyways, eventually I played good enough to join a band. It seemed like a dream come true. I felt I'd arrived. Little did I know that the real education was yet to begin. And the teachers would always be around, when I was ready...

here's the rest of the story

“I can't even read notes. But I can teach someone how to make a guitar smoke.”

— Ace Frehley

Marshall Big M Cabinet — 1995 JTM45 Reissue with a 1975 'Big M' Cabinet. Punk rock approved. Click on the photo to hear this rig live, in a dive-bar.

Marshall 2245 JMP45 Reissue

Marshall JTM45 Reissue Mk II

1995 Marshall JTM45 model 2245

This amp has seen action with all the Ventura Bands I've been in, since I got it. It has the 5881 (stock reissue) power tubes, and a real UK Mullard in V1. My preference over the years has been to play it on 10, or with a Tubescreamer at lower volumes. This is "The British Bassman". Legend has it that the first Marshalls (of which this is a copy) were designed by copying, or reverse engineering, a Fender Bassman. But building them with the British parts which were available to them at the time in the UK. This amp is a tone machine. The reissue's construction includes UK made Drake transformers. The sound sample is JTM45 & 2045 CABINET, NO MASTER VOLUME AND NO PEDALS.

Sample a song recorded with the jtm45 and 2045 cabinet

Marshall 2045 2x12 Cabinet

1975 Marshall Model 2045 2x12 Speaker Cabinet

Marshall 2x12 Cabinet

1975 marshall model 2045 2x12 g12M-25 speakers

This Marshall Model 2045 2x12 from the JMP era is in stock trim and pretty good condition. Marshall sold these as a "Lead, Bass, Organ' cabinet. Guys nicknamed these the "suitcase" cabinet due to it's shallow 9" depth. The first JCM 800 model 1936 cabs were just this suitcase style cabinet re-badged. Then in the early 80's the JCM's went to the more common, deep 1936 cab. This cabinet has G12M-25 T1221 black-back speakers. These are date stamped Nov '75. They also have a '3' stamped onto the back side of the cone which could possibly identify them as Pulsonic cones. More likely though, they are some sort of 'transitional' Mueller cones. This cabinet, combined with the JTM45 (or a 1959SLP with a PB100 Power Brake) is replacing my Princeton Reverb as the 'go-to' amp cab in the studio.

Gibson Les Paul R8 Plaintop

Gibson Historic Les Paul

2005 Gibson custom historic 1958 plaintop reissue les paul r8

This guitar sounds as good as she looks. The cherry sunburst Les Paul is coveted by Page fans everywhere. I found this on the 'scratch & dent' rack at a Guitar Center. Couldn't find anything wrong with it, so I had to take it home. I got it with the custom case for a deal that couldn't be beat. These guitars tend to be heavy. This one tips the scales at 9.8 lbs. Because of that, I like the lighter Juniors and SG's for live work. But in the studio where weight isn't a liability, this thing kills. I used it for the end guitar solo on my recording of The Red Ramblers. Tex Burbank played slide on it on Coming Home and The Last Song. The only modification is a strap lock on the upper bout. Currently it's strung up with Ernie Ball 8's. The amplifier pictured is a Marshall 50 watt 2204-S, and 1982A cabinet. This was a great guitar-amp combination. Particularly because the Marshall/Celestion black-label T2876 80-watt speakers from 1979, are particularly well suited to the MV-era amp circuit. Different than the plexi/green-back sound, but iconic in it's own right. And a perfect foil for the R8.

Gibson and Marshall Live